The Nine-Hundred Day Quest

     Peter reached for the map in his coat pocket, unfurling it in front of him. The edges were tattered and the map had begun to fade, but it was still readable over the fire, whose flames illuminated the parchment like a paper lantern. He stared at it expectedly, clenching the map with his paws, harder and harder the longer his eyes shifted across.

     “Present this to Captain Tuan and he will guide you home on the Cyodrake’s Gaze. The airship is scheduled to depart for a delivery to Brightvale on day nine-hundred of your journey.” Those had been the king’s last words before handing the scholar a ticket for safe passage on the airship, dated for the day after the Lunar Festival. Three days away. Despite the cold, a droplet of sweat ran down his face.

     It wasn’t long before the last of the kindling burnt, leaving behind the faint smell of seared juppie and a cave blacker than coal. Peter shivered. The warmth of the fire had stood in stark contrast to the merciless cold that plagued the mountain. A warm blanket was now the only thing on his mind. He knew the unpredictable weather and an impenetrable darkness made the mountain far too treacherous to traverse at night. Stumbling to his tent, he retreated.

     ~~~~~~

     The winds were calm and the sun shone brightly the morning of day eight-hundred and ninety-eight. Smiling, Peter trotted out of the cavern, stuffing the last of his belongings into the front pocket of his rucksack, trouncing through the glistening snow and onto the footbridge ahead. One foot after the other until the sound of a projectile pierced the air beneath him.

     Peter clenched his paws around the ropes of the bridge. It wouldn’t have been the first time he had been ambushed on his travels, he mused. The creatures lurking in the Haunted Woods had made certain of that, but it was not something he longed for.

     A grappling hook emerged from the abyss, snapping one of the ropes Peter was holding onto before lodging itself on the other side of the mountain. “Careful!” he shouted into the trench as he scurried over the tilting bridge, clinging onto the last remaining rope.

     “Sorry!” the stranger’s voice echoed, growing louder as they flew up the mountain, launching themselves onto the snow in front of him. “I would guess you’re headed to the city. Let me guide you there. It’s the least I can do for scaring you.”

     “Scared? Pfft.” Peter scoffed, brushing off the last bit of snow on his jacket before looking up at the stranger. “Wait! Are you Princess Terrana? Don’t worry abo...” Peter exclaimed, noticing a royal crest on the sash she was wearing.

     “I wouldn’t let me off so easy, but I appreciate it,” she interrupted, hand on hip. “Ready to go?”

     Peter looked around. “Yes! I mean, that’s nice of you. I need to arrive before tonight. You know a faster route?”

     “Sure do.” Terrana reached out, grabbing Peter’s paw with hers as she bent down to grab the grappling hook lying in the snow with the other.

     “But don’t let go.”

     ~~~~~~

     Peter lay on the snow, panting. "You do that every day?" he asked, looking up at Terrana, who was inspecting her arm but otherwise looking completely unfazed by the climb.

     "Well, it is a little harder in the snow. But it's the fastest way to get out of town if you can't 'borrow' an airship - which my father keeps very carefully guarded after the Great Misty Shenkuu Mountain Soup Incident of Year Fifteen."

     "What's the Great Shenkuu Misty Soup Incident of Year Fifteen?" Peter asked.

     "Never mind. It wasn't my fault. How was I to know that fifteen barrels of soup would exceed the weight limit of the ship once it was at altitude? If it can get off the ground, shouldn't it be able to stay up in the air? Besides, the River Rush surfers said the soup made for the best waves ever, and while it was a little hard to wash out of their bathing suits, it certainly made the mountain spring water less frigid for a while."

     Peter couldn't really follow Terrana's explanation, but he decided there was no point in asking any more questions about it.

     "Thanks," Peter said, struggling to stand up again under the weight of his pack. Terrana reached out a paw, and Peter accepted it gratefully. He was surprised by the strength with which she helped him onto his feet.

     Without waiting, Terrana was already heading off across the nearest footbridge.

     Peter gulped as he looked between the planks of the bridge and could see nothing but icy mist. Two steps in, he could no longer see the mountain behind them. As far as he could see in all directions, the only thing visible was the white fog and the bridge appearing to lead into nothingness in both directions.

     Peter breathed a sigh of relief as they reached solid ground again. He was finding it difficult to keep up with the Gnorbu. How did she make walking up and down these steep paths seem so effortless? Peter would have liked to blame not being adapted to the elevation yet, but he knew that he'd rarely walked as far in a week as he did on the last day of this journey.

     Terrana kept up a running commentary as she led him past buildings that were barely more than ghostly shapes in the mist. "You'd think the first thing you'd come to off the mountain would be a nice tea shop, right? But this is actually Kou-Jong. It's a fun game, and you can learn a bit about the ancient Shenkuu logographic writing system by studying the tiles, if Linae lets you look at them. Then it's just up this little hill for a bit to Remarkable Restoratives. How are you feeling? Need a pick-me-up?"

     "I'm good," Peter huffed.

     "Are you sure? You seem a little short of breath. Maybe you're coming down with Kikoughela." Terrana placed her paw on Peter's forehead to see whether he seemed warm.

     Peter pushed her away in embarrassment, not wanting her to see how sweaty he was from the climb. "I'm not coughing," he pointed out. "I'm just a little tired and not used to the elevation."

     Terrana shrugged. "Well, I suppose that's for the best. We don't have anything for Kikoughela, so you'd have to travel to the pharmacy in Neopia Central for a cure."

     She led the way over the next bridge, which swayed a lot more than the last one they crossed. Peter teetered across, making it half-way before his feet slipped out from under him, sending him skidding towards Terrana, knocking her down, too. Terrana grabbed onto the rope support as she slid underneath it. Peter waved his arms fruitlessly, scrabbling at the air. A scream caught in his throat as he felt himself slide off the wooden plank into nothingness. Peter closed his eyes, not wanting to see the ground rush towards him.

     But his paws managed to find something to grasp, and he dug his claws in tight.

     "Ow. I've got you. Could you release your claws a bit?" Terrana asked. Peter opened his eyes and realized that he was clinging to Terrana's boot. He retracted his claws while retaining the firm grip he had with his paw.

     Terrana carefully pulled herself back onto the bridge, bracing herself against the rope. "Now swing a leg up. Come on, I've got you."

     Peter gathered his courage and swung a leg towards Terrana. But he didn't put enough power into it, and it fell back, causing them both to sway.

     "Come on, try again!" Terrana encouraged him. "I've got you!"

     Peter swung his leg harder, and Terrana caught it and hooked it over the rope support. "Now give me your hand." Terrana pulled him the rest of the way up, and Peter followed her cautiously the rest of the way across the bridge. “Bridges don’t like you very much do they?”

     “Hey you busted the first one!” Peter replied, jokingly.

     Terrana pointed to the inn. “You’ll stay there tonight. Tomorrow you should go to the Lunar Temple. Scholars have found rare texts there before.”

     “How did you know I...?” Peter asked, glancing at Terrana expectedly. “Are you leaving?”

     “You’re not the first scholar to make their way up here,” Terrana chuckled as they walked down the city path. “Tomorrow I set off to find the fabled Sword of the Moon. An annoying Blurgah stopped me last time, but not this time, oh no, not this time! I will be sure to visit the library next time I’m in Brightvale though!”

     Peter grinned. “Thank you. I look forward to it.” A gorgeous view greeted them as the sun began to set, all the more clear above the clouds.

     ~~~~~~

     Page eight-hundred and ninety-nine.

     Peter silently waited outside of the Lunar Temple. From Captain Tuan’s petpet farm to stories about the artifacts hidden in the mountains, he had spent the day journaling his travels. And as the hours passed, so did the sun. But the fireworks and cheering crowds kept Peter in good humor, growing louder the clearer the moon shone that night. The night of the Lunar Festival.

     It wasn’t much longer before the entrance to the Lunar Temple creaked open. The wise old Gnorbu stood at its entrance, leaning on one of the doors with his paw. And with his wooden cane he gestured for Peter to walk inside as he shut the doors behind them.

     “You must be Peter. Terrana told me you were looking for a rare text when she stopped by yesterday evening. Any rare text will do for the Great Library, yes?” The wise Gnorbu began.

     “Uh, yes. You are familiar with the library? Terrana stopped by? Do you have anything that may be missing from its halls?” In rapid succession, Peter asked his questions, tilting his head curiously.

     The Gnorbu laughed, amused by Peter’s impatience. “She wanted help with something called the Sword of the Moon, but alas that’s out of my expertise. We got to talking though. And you’re not the first scholar to mak…”

     Peter interrupted. “Make it up here. So I’ve been told. About the book?”

     “You are an eager one, aren’t you? I just might.” The wise old Gnorbu walked over to a pile of books in the corner of the room, covered in a thick layer of dust. He dug through the literature, from an encyclopedia on moon phases to a child’s book about Fanciful Fauna, throwing every other text into another corner of the room, before finding the one he was looking for. The Gnorbu grabbed the text and walked back to Peter. “This. This is one of only two copies in the entirety of Neopia.”

     The wise old Gnorbu could see Peter slowly reaching for the book. “Not so fast, young one!” he shouted, whacking Peter’s paw with his wooden cane.

     “Ow!” Peter shouted, scrunching up his face.

     “That must be earned,” the Gnorbu replied sternly. He once again gestured Peter to follow him as they strolled to the next room. “There,” the Gnorbu said, pointing to a large chart fixed to the wall. “I have chosen a random position for Neopia and Kreludor on my chart. Based on these positions, which phase of Kreludor would most likely be seen from Neopia? Sketch your answer.”

     “Fair enough!” Peter smirked. Having researched lunar phases the week before leaving Brightvale, he confidently grabbed the quill in front of him, sketching his answer on a piece of parchment he found lying on the table. And not a minute later, he was done.

     “Impressive!” the Gnorbu exclaimed, clapping his hands in amazement after reviewing Peter’s work. “Here you are! A Complete Collection of the Shenkuuvian Lunar Archive.”

     Peter begrudgingly reached for the text, half expecting another hit from the Gnorbu’s cane that never came. “Thank you,” he replied after the book was securely in his paws.

     ~~~~~~

     Page nine-hundred.

     Peter climbed aboard the Cyodrake’s Gaze, presenting his ticket to Orrin, a Nimmo in charge of the airship’s cargo and supplies. “Over there. You’ll be staying in the cargo hold,” Orrin directed, pointing at the hatch behind him. “There is a bed down there for you.”

     “Better than I’m used to.” Peter replied, giving Orrin a smile and a nod before walking across the deck to the opening, greeting the rest of the crew along the way, except for Captain Tuan who stood on the quarterdeck, staring at the horizon.

     Peter wobbled down the steps of the dimly lit hold, finding a bed closest to the stern. It was then a voice whispered from behind the steps at the hatch’s entrance. Peter turned around.

     “You’re on this airship too?”

     “Terrana!” Peter exclaimed, recognizing her voice.

     “Yup! Stowing away on a ship is surprisingly easy. Beats stealing, err, I mean ‘borrowing’ an airship! I decided to head to Brightvale to learn more about the Sword of the Moon before I continue my quest. If what you say about that library is true I’m sure there’s research I can use there. Hopefully you can help me once you get your apprenticeship and all that!”

     Peter smiled. “Of course.” Sitting on the floor, journal in hand, he finished his final entry. Day nine-hundred. He could hear the mast fluttering above the deck. The airship wobbling in the wind as it set sail. He returned to the deck for a final farewell, staring at the land below, all that he’d overcome.

     ~~~~~~

     Light peered through the glorious stained glass windows in the castle where King Hagan sat on his throne. It had been a full day since the Cyodrake’s Gaze docked in Brightvale. Peter was in the throne room now, making his way down the aisle, locking eyes with the king.

     “So you’ve completed your quest?” King Hagan asked, inquisitively.

     “Yes.” Shaking, he reached into his satchel, handing the king the text that was inside. “One of only two copies in all of Neopia!” he added.

     “So there are, but unfortunately, the only other copy is already in the Great Library.” The king handed the book back to Peter, smiling, not wanting to upset the young scholar.

     Peter’s face paled and tears shimmered in his eyes. “I-I-I…”

     “But.” the king continued. “Let me see your journal.”

     “I don’t understand.”

     “Give it here.”

     Peter, not wanting to question his king, reached into his satchel and retrieved the journal he had hidden away in its pocket.

     As the king flipped through the pages, his eyes lit up, darting from one word to the next, entranced by what Peter had written. “My boy. You have unwittingly solved the riddle of the Great Library! I will be honored to have you begin your apprenticeship in its halls.” The kind words returning a smile to Peter’s face. “Those who work its halls all have stories to tell. A library having more books than have ever been written. Some scholars find unique texts in Neopia, but you, you created your own work of art. You solved the riddle. Go now.”

     Peter bowed his head before turning towards the doors whence he came. And towards those doors he hastened on his way to the library.

     The End.